'Pouring everything that you are': musicians' experiences of optimal performances. Issue 2 (27th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ford, Jessica L.; Vosloo, Justine; Arvinen-Barrow, Monna
• Is Part Of: British journal of music education. Volume 37:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2020-07-27
• Subjects: Flow theory, -- optimal performance experiences, -- musicians, -- qualitative research, -- performance psychology; Music -- Instruction and study -- Periodicals; 780.71
• DOI: 10.1017/S0265051720000078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-0517

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to document the lived experiences of flow during an optimal music performance. Fifteen undergraduate musicians ( M age = 19, 53% male) participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews, where they were asked to describe an optimal performance experience. Results from an inductive qualitative analysis revealed three main themes: environmental context, emotional connectedness and interpersonal relationships, which synthesised the optimal performance experience. The results also suggest that flow among musicians appears to be a common emotional state and similar to that conceptualised in sport. The ways a musician experiences flow are important, as these can help music educators gain a better understanding of the conceptualisation of flow within music performance. However, given the nuanced differences in the sociocultural environment of a flow experience typical in a sport or music performance, additional research into the divergences of domains may be warranted.